Tape and bandage cutter

ABSTRACT

A tape and bandage cutter has a reversely curved toe portion formed at one end of a handle and a curved cutting blade removably mounted in a slot in such portion. Part of the blade extends generally parallel to the tape contacting surface of the toe portion. The handle is formed generally parallel to the toe portion such that a force applied to the handle in the direction of the toe portion draws the latter underneath the tape to be cut. Rollers mounted beneath the toe portion facilitate movement over the skin.

United States Patent Phillips et al.

1 July4, 1972 [54] TAPE AND BANDAGE CUTTER [72] Inventors: Cecil E.Phillips; Fay M. Bennett, Eugene,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain ..30/294 442,921 4/1927Germany ..30/317 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-J.C. Peters Attorney--Buckhom, Blore, Klarquist & Sparkman [5 7] ABSTRACTA tape and bandage cutter has a reversely curved toe portion formed atone end of a handle and a curved cutting blade removably mounted in aslot in such portion. Part of the blade extends generally parallel tothe tape contacting surface of the toe portion. The handle is formedgenerally parallel to the toe portion such that a force applied to thehandle in the direction of the toe portion draws the latter underneaththe tape to be cut. Rollers mounted beneath the toe portion facilitatemovement over the skin.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUL 4 m2 3.673.687

CECIL E. PHILLIPS FAY M. BENNETT INVENTORS. BY

BUCKHORN, BLORE, KLARQUIST & SPARKMAN ATTORNEYS This invention relatesto tape and bandage cutters and, more particularly; to a cutter forremoving the tape that is routinely applied to the wrists and ankles ofathletes.

The taping of athletes wrists and ankles is a routine practice engagedin by athletic trainers on behalf of athletes of all types andespecially those who compete in contact sports. Such taping is generallypreceded by applying a protective coating of benzoin, or elastic paper,gauze or stockinette to the limb which is thereafter wrapped with tapein the manner well known to those who work with athletes.

The removing of the tape at the end of the athletic contest is generallya time consuming operation. Furthermore, if there has been an injury tothe joint or limb, it is essential to remove the tape without applyingany appreciable pressure to they limb. Since the tape itself is adheredtightly to the skin and consists of several layers in addition to theunderlying gauze or stockinet te, the various layers necessarily exertpressure on bone and flesh. If there has been an injury, it is essentialthat additional pressure'be eliminatedjto avoid further injury.

Accordingly, it isthe primary object of the present invention to providea tape and bandage cutter that will quickly and efficiently removeprotective layers of tape from the joints and limbs of athletes. g v

It is a further object-of the present invention to provide such a cutterthat will be effective in removing such tape without exerting anyadditional pressure against the skin.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such acutter that will move smoothly and without pressure to sever tape overaninjury such as a broken bone, skin laceration or severely bruisedflesh.-

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a sucha cutter having aremovable blade that can be easilysharpened or replacedand that will not clog with the material being cut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION v joint or limb by a force applied to thehandle member.

\ A cutting blade is removably mounted in a slot in the toe portion, theblade being providedwith a curved cutting edge whichextends outwardly ofthe toe portion in the direction of the distal end thereof. At least oneportion of the edge of the blade extends generally parallel to the tapecontacting surface of the toe portion.

At least one roller is mounted in the toe portion extending outwardlyfrom the lower surface thereof to contact the skin during the severingof the tape. Inserting the toe portion of the cutter underneath the tapeand drawing the handle in the direction of the distal end of the toeportion causes the rollers at the base thereof smoothly to move over thelimb. The tape is thus severed quickly and easily without any additionalpressure to the limb. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTReferring to the drawings, there is shown a tape and bandage cuttercomprising an elongated handle member 12 of aluminum, brass, steel,plastic or other similar strong material extending, as illustrated, in agenerally horizontal direction and having a plurality of finger gripindentations 14 on each side thereof. A hole 15 is formed in the end 16for attachment to a cord or lanyard (not shown).

Integrally formed with the lower or forward end 17 of handle member 12is a depending reversely curved toe portion 18, the end 20 of whichextends in a direction generally parallel to at least one portion ofhandle member 12 and, preferably, to the portion 22 thereof. End 20 oftoe portion 18 is pointed as at 24 and is thus adapted to be drawnunderneath tapeapplied to a wrist or ankle by a force applied to handlemember 12.

Toe portion 18 is formed with a cap member or side plate 26 which isattached thereto by three stainless steel flush head screws 28. Plate 26is fonned with a recess 30 therein so that H when attached to toeportion 18, a slot 32 is provided therethrough extending from theextreme forward end l7 of the cutter through toe portion 18 emerging atthe distal end 20 thereof. Slot 32 extends along the distal end of toeportion 18 generally parallel to the tape contacting surface 36 thereof.

A stainless steel cutting blade 38 is removably mounted'in slot 32 beingretained therein by a knurled head shoulder bolt 40 which extendsthrough blade 38 and is threadedly received into toe portion 18. Blade38 has parallel edges 41, a blunt curved forward portion 42 joiningedges 41, and a curved cutting edge 44 at the rear. Edge 44 is formedgenerally parallel to forward portion 42 and is honed razor sharp.

The curved portion 45 of edge 44 merges into a generallystraight'portion 46 which extends generally parallel to-tape contactingsurface 36 of toe portion 18. Curved portion 45 of edge 44 is thus seento extend outwardly of toe portion 18 in the direction of the distal end20 thereof, thereby to be able to 1 cut through tape or bandage-likematerial when toe portion .18 is drawn thereunder by a force applied tohandle member 12.

Blade 38 is easily removed for sharpening or replacement by unscrewingbolt 40. Curved cutting edge44 prevents cut tape or bandage materialfrom clogging against handle member 12 during the cutting operation.

Three nylon rollers 48 are journalefd in recesses 50 provided in plate26 and toe portion 18. Rollers 48 extend outwardly from the lowersurface 52 of the toe portion 18 to ,contact the skin and move easilytherealong during severing of the tape. Since the presence of therollers facilitates movement by re-; lieving normal pressure, cutter 10is enabled to move smoothly and without pressure even over an injuredjoint or limb without aggravatingthe injury. Rollers 48 also 'facilitatemovement without undue pressure of cutter 10 over bony sections of thebody, as for example, over the instep. This is especially helpful in thecm of a fracture ofthe foot during playing periods. Rollers 48 providesimilar action over muscular parts of arms and legs in case such sustaina fracture, and they also facilitate removing tape from limbs tapedafter a fracture has occurred.

In the foregoing description the invention has been described withreference to certain particular preferred embodiments, although it is tobe understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrativeand that the invention may be carried out in other ways withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the following appendedclaims.

We claim: t

1. A tape and bandage cutter for severing adhesive tape and likematerial applied to a person's limbs, comprising an elongated curvedhandle member;

' a depending reversely curved toe portion fonned at one end of saidhandle member, the distal end of said toe portion being generallyparallel to the other end of said handle member, said distal end of saidtoe portion being adapted to be drawn underneath said tape by a forceapplied to said handle member;

said toe portion being provided with a slot therethrough, said v slotextending along said distal vend of said toe portion generally parallelto the tape contacting surface thereof;

a single cutting blade removably mounted in said slot, said 1 tion ofsaid toe portion; and a roller journaled in each of said recesses, saidrollers extending outwardly from said lower portion of said toe portionto contact the skin during severing of said tape and facilitate movementof said cutter therealong.

2. A tape and bandagecutter as in claim 1 in which said rollers comprisenylon rollers.

a 1 r a w

1. A tape and bandage cutter for severing adhesive tape and likematerial applied to a person''s limbs, comprising an elongated curvedhandle member; a depending reversely curved toe portion formed at oneend of said handle member, the distal end of said toe portion beinggenerally parallel to the other end of said handle member, said distalend of said toe portion being adapted to be drawn underneath said tapeby a force applied to said handle member; said toe portion beingprovided with a slot therethrough, said slot extending along said distalend of said toe portion generally parallel to the tape contactingsurface thereof; a single cutting blade removably mounted in said slot,said blade being provided with a sharp cutting edge, said cutting edgecomprising a curved portion at the rear thereof, said curved portion ofsaid cutting edge extending outwardly of said toe portion in thedirection of said distal end thereof; said cutting edge of said bladefurther comprising a generally straight portion, said curved portionbeing tangential to said straight portion, said straight portionextending generally parallel to said tape contacting surface of saiddistal end of said toe portion; a plurality of recesses longitudinallydisposed in the lower portion of said toe portion; and a rollerjournaled in each of said recesses, said rollers extending outwardlyfrom said lower portion of said toe portion to contact the skin duringsevering of said tape and facilitate movement of said cutter therealong.2. A tape and bandage cutter as in claim 1 in which said rollerscomprise nylon rollers.